Automatic electric toaster



Aug. 10, 1948. o. G. KREER AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOASTER N Q K V inventor & aka/7' 6T 25 123 6M7 1647M (Ittornegs 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nnentor mm/zzfa/fw a (Ittornegs o. G. KREIER AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOASTER Aug. 10, 1948.

Filed July 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 5, 1944 Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNH'EED STATES ATENT QFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic toasters, and, more particularly, to a timing and controlling mechanism therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic toaster for toasting a plurality of slices of bread simultaneously and to provide means for delivering the bread after the lapse of a predetermined time interval and interrupting the circuit through the heating element at the moment of bread delivery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a temperature controlled latch member which is released after a predetermined time interval to deliver the slices of bread and to provide means for controlling the latch member to facilitate the toasting of the bread to the desired degree.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing and control device for toasters of the automatic type including a bi-metalilc latch member for retaining the bread slice carrier in position so that upon bending and expansion of the bi-metallic element, said bread carrier will be moved to its open position to deliver the toast and upon opening of the bread slice carrier, an electric switch is operated to interrupt the circuit through the heating element of the toaster simultaneously with the release of the bi-metallic latch member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toaster of the automatic type in which the heating elements are arranged so that they will not sag or become out of shape during constant use and are so positioned that the heat therefrom will be utilized to a maximum extent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toaster of the automatic type in which the heating elements and bread slice carrier are arranged so that they may be easily swung to an open position on a vertical axis to facilitate the easy cleaning of the toaster and the removal of bread crumbs and the like from the casing as well as various portions of the heating element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric toaster of the automatic type which is comparatively simple in construction to nhance the mass manufacture thereof and which com-' prises comparatively few parts to become out of order and broken.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric toaster of the automatic type which is designed to toast the bread slices to the desired de-v gree of toasting with a minimum amount of elec tric power, thereby materially reducing the cost of operation and increasing the overall efficiency of the toaster.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 isa top plan view of the toaster showing the manner in which the heating element and bread slice carrier are mounted to swing horizontally on vertical hinge members and illustrating generally the structure and arrangement of the various parts;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the toaster showing the heating element and bread slice carriers in their open position and the general arrangement thereof, with the bread slice carriers staggered and positioned to be disposed adjacent pairs of heating elements so that the bread slices will be arranged in a horizontal position therebetween;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the toaster similar to Figure 2 showing the heating element carrier and bread slice carrier in their closed positions and illustrating the manner in which the slices of bread are disposed between adjacent pairs of heating elements for toasting;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the base portion of the toaster and showing the remaining portions broken away to illustrate various structural details of the control switch for interrupting the circuit when the heating element carrier or the bread slice carriers are in an open position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the switch structure illustrating in detail varishowing the yielding means for urging the bread slice carrier to the position shown in Figure 1 when the bi-metallic latch member is released from its keeper; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the invention illustrating the heating elements connected to a source of current and provided with a switch for controlling the supply of current to certain of said heating elements when it is desired to toast single or double slices instead of a series or multiplicity .of slices.

n the drawings attention is particularly directed to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention including a base 5, frame supporting member 6 and hinged casing sections 1 and 8. The base includes a top wall 9 having depending side walls l9 forming a rectangular housing of sturdy construction. Secured to opposed side walls I9 is a pair of handles I I formed of Bakelite and held in place by screws or'the like as at |2. The'bottom wall of the base 5 includes a plate-like member l3 having a marginal flange M for being telescoped within the base 5 so as to be held therein by screws or the like as at l5. The bottom wall 43 is punched or depressed to form semi-spherical foot portions i6 adjacent the corners of the base so that the same may be supported on a table or the like without marring or scratching the table surface.

Secured to the top wall 9 of the base 5 is a rectangular frame structure which has been designated by the reference character 6 and said frame structure embodies a vertical upright |1 connected by a top wall I8 and provided with "so as to provide a relatively stable structure while inwardly directed flanges |9 at the lower portions thereof. The flanges l9 are suitably apertured for receiving bolts or the like as at 20 so that nuts 2| may be threaded on the opposite end of said bolts to securely clamp the uprights H to the opposite wall 9 of the base 5. The uprights H and connecting portion |8 are provided with inwardly directed flanges 22 to strengthen the structure throughout and provide a relatively stable support for the hinge closure members 1 and 8 which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The closure 1 comprises a front wall .23 having a marginal flange extending around the sides and top thereof to provide side walls 24 and a top wall 25. The lower portions of the front wall 23 and side walls 24 are flared outwardly as at i 26 and are adapted to slide over the top wall 9 of the base 5 when the closure 1 ismoved to its open or closed position.

Similarly, the closure member 8 is comprised of a front wall 21 having a marginal flange extending around the edge thereof forming side walls 28 and a top wall 29. The lower portion of the front wall 21 and side walls 28'are flared outwardly as at 30 to provide a skirt portion which is adapted to slide over the topwall 9 of the base 5 in contactual engagement therewith and close the lower portion of said casing section 8 when the same is in a closed position.

Secured to the top wall |8 of the frame memher 6 is a horizontal bar 3| which is adapted" to project on opposite sides thereof and is held in place by bolts 32 being passed throughsuitable openings in the top wall l8 and spaced openings in the bar 3|. Nuts 33 are threaded on the bolts 32. The free projecting ends of the horizontal bar 3| extend beneath the top walls 25 and 29 of the casing sections 1 and 8 and are aflixed thereto by hinge bolts 34 passing through suitable apertures in said top walls 25 and 29 and secured in place by nuts 35 threaded on the lower ends thereof.

The free swinging end of the casing section I is provided with a latch member and said latch member includes a swinging bolt 38 pivoted to the side wall 24 by means of a screw or the like as at 31. A control knob 38 is aflixed to the swinging bolt 36 to rotate the same so that the hooked end as at 38c may be moved into and out of engagement with a keeper pin 39 secured to the foremost vertical frame member H. The other 'metal' strip 4| at bolt 42.

thefree end of the bi-metal strip 4| terminates ina hook portion 41 as indicated in Figures 1 and '16. Thebimetal strip 49 has a slotted end 40a to make necessary adjustments in relation to bi- The bimetal strips 4|] and are constructed and positioned so as to bend away from the side wall 28 of the casing section 8 when heated and said strips are each formed of metallic strips having different coeflicients of expansion to facilitate the bending thereof in the proper direction when heated.

Held in place by the keeper pin 39 is an adjustable keeper bar 49 held in place by a nut or 'thelike 50 on the threaded end of said keeper 'pin 39 and said keeper bar is formed of resilient spring'metal and has its end 5| terminating in a keeper portion adapted to be engaged by the hooked end 41 of the bimetal strip 4|. An adjusting screw 52 is threaded in a nut 53 secured to thefront wall H of the frame structure 6 so that'the inner end thereof will engage the flexible keeper 49 and move the keeper portion 5| thereof when the screw 52 is adjusted by the hand knob 54. The hand knob 54 is also secured to the side wall 28 of the casing section 8 and is held in place by a screw or the like as at 59 to facilitate closing of said casing section after the same has been automatically opened.

Carried by the casing section 9 is a series of bread slice holders and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thebread slice holder is formed of a pair of spaced bar members 51 secured to the front wall 21 of the casing section 8 by screws or the like 'as'at 58. A series of bread slice holders 6B are carried by the bars 51 and each of the bread slice'holders includes a wire frame member having side portions 6| bent inwardly as at 62 and flared outwardly as at 53 where they are bent for a portion of their length as at 64 to provide upstanding bread slice engaging projections (Figure 1). Inwardly extending portions terminate in substantially parallel portions 66 bent uponthemselves as at 61 to complete the carrier structure. The side portions 6| are connected by a transverse bar 68 to which the return bent portion 61 is welded as at 99 and the ends of :said side portions 6| are welded or otherwise secured to the spaced parallel bars 51 and are likewise welded to the transverse bar 68. Each of the bread slice holders 69 is of a sufiicient size to support a slice of bread of domestic dimensions indicated by the reference character B. It

will thus be seen that a series of bread slices may be positioned on the bread slice holders in superposed spaced apart relation in such a man- .ner that the bread slices B will swing horizontally with the casing section 8.

A plurality of electric heating elements are supported by the casing section 1 from the front wall 23 thereof and in order to support said heating elements in superposed relation in offset spaced locations or positions from the bread slice holder 60,-a pair of small angle bars 10 are secured to the side wall 23 of the casing section I in spaced apart relation and held in place by nuts and bolts as at TI at each end thereof. U-shaped frame members I2 have their leg portions I3 bolted at the ends thereof to the flanges of the angle bars I by means of nuts and bolts as at Ma so that said frame members I2 will project inwardly in staggered offset relation with respect to the bread slice carrier 60. Each heating element comprises an asbestos frame I5 which is rectangular in shape and is provided with a series of transversely arranged asbestos strips I6 with their ends fastened or looped to said asbestos frame I5 so that the heating element wire 'Il' may be interwoven to and fro between said transverse asbestos strips so as to hold the courses of said heating element wire in spaced relation (Figure 1). In order to hold said asbestos frames I5 in position in the U-shaped frame member 12, a series of metal clips 1511 are passed therearound with the free ends thereof bolted or fastened in place by means of bolts The bolts pass through suitable openings in the asbestos frame adjacent the marginal edge thereof.

The loop ends of the high resistance heating element wires TI and 18 pass through suitable openings in the rectangular frame I5 during the weaving of said high resistance heating element wire so that the terminal ends I8 and 00 will emerge from the frame I5 at a point adjacent the front wall 23 of the casing section I. The lowermost heating element has its terminal I9 connected to the corresponding terminal of an adjacent heating element by means of a connecting portion SI and the terminal portion 80 of said last-mentioned heating element is connected with the heating element terminal 80 immediately thereabove by means of a connecting portion 83 connecting the vertically aligned terminal point I9 thereof. The loose terminals 80 of the lowermost and uppermost heating elements are connected with the supply lines 85 and 86 respectively, and are adapted to be connected to a domestic source of current supply in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The casing sections I and 8 are additionally hinged and supported by a pair of vertically extending tubular pintle members 81 and 88 which have their lower ends journalled in a bearing block 89 formed of Bakelite or other insulating material aflixed to the tap wall 9 of the base 5 by screws or bolts as at 90. The casing sections '5 and. 8 are connected to the tubular pintle members 87 and 88 by means of clips 9! and 92 arranged at the top and bottom of said casing sections and said clips 9| and 92 encircle the tubular pintle members 81 and 88 and have their free ends fastened in place by nuts and bolts as at 83, to the respective rear walls 24 and 28 of said casing sections i and 3. It will thus be seen that the casing sections I and 8 may be swung horizontally on their Vertical pivot points 34 and. on the pintle members 8'! and 88 so that the lower ends of said pintle members will rotate in suitable bearing openings in the bearing block 89.

The bearing block 89 is cut away as at 95 to form a stepped shoulder portion to facilitate the mounting of a pair of switch arms and formed integral with the bearing block 89 is a rearwardly extending projection 95 for supporting a pair of opposed switch contact members 91 and 98 which are connected by an intermediate portion 89 received in a longitudinal slot I00 in the rearas at I35.

6 wardly projecting extension 96 as illustrated in Figure 5. The intermediate portion 99 is firmly held or pressed into the slot I00 so that the stationary contacts 91 and 98 will be disposed on opposite sides of said rearwardly extending projection 96.

The lowermost ends of the tubular pintle shafts 81 and 88 are serrated as at WI and I02 to facilitate the mounting of a pair of switch arms I03 and I04 on said pintle shaft and as illustrated in Figure 5, the switch arms I 03 and I04 are provided with outwardly flared hub portions I05 and I06 of annular formation for receiving clamping collars I01 and I 08 respectively. The clamping collars I01 and I08 are provided with complementary annular recesses I09 and H0 for receiving the outwardly flared hub portions I05 and I 85 of said switch arms and said clamping collars are adapted to be clampingly held in engagement with the outwardly flared annular hub portions I09 and H0 and the serrated portions IOI and I02 of the pintle shafts 81 and 88 by means of clamping screws or bolts 1 I2 and I I3 respectively.

Embedded in the free swinging ends of the switch arms I03 and I04 are contact members H4 and H5 positioned to engage the stationary contact members 91 and 88 respectively. Also imbedded in the switch arms I 03 and I04 and connecting each of the contact pins 'I I4 and H5 are connecting links H6 and II! the outer free ends of which are adapted to be connected to one of the supply lines 85 which extends downwardly through the tubular pintle shaft 81 so that the lower end thereof may be connected as at 8 to said connector link I I6. The other terminal conductor B5 is passed through 'a lateral opening I I9 in the lower portion of the tubular pintle shaft 81 and passes downwardly through the base portion 5 so as to be connected to a lead line I20 of an electric cable I2I. The other lead line I22 of said cable I2! is connected to the connector link II! as at I23 so that a circuit will be completed through the electric heating element and low resistance heating wires thereof II when the switch contacts H4 and H5 are in engagement with the stationary contacts 91 and 98 respectively. The lead cables I20 and I22 are passed through an insulating bushing I24 in one of the walls I0 of the base 5 and said bushing is held in place by a suitable clamping nut I 24a threaded on a reduced threaded portion of said insulator bushing. It will thus be seen that when the casing sections I and 8 are in their closed position, the switch arms I03 and I04 will be moved to a position to cause engagement of the contact pins H4 and H5 with their respective stationary contacts 91 and 98 and that it is necessary that both of said casin sections be closed before the circuit is completed through the domestic cable I 2| which is connected to the house current supply and through the heating elements 11.

In order to yieldingly urge the casing section 8 in a normally open position, the tubular pintle shaft 88 is placed under tension by means of a coil spring I25 which encircles a guide rod I25 having a clevis at one end I21 for being pivotally connected to a bracket I28 as at I 29. The bracket I28 is affixed to one of the walls I0 of the base 5 by means of a screw or the like I30. Slidably mounted on the roid I26 is a block I'3I having a bearing projection I32 for receiving the upturned end I33 of a control rod I34. The other end of the control rod I34 is imbedded in the switch I04 It will thus be seen that when the switch arm I04 and casing section I08 are moved to their closed position, the arm I34 will swing in a direction tocompress the coil spring I2 by reason of the fact that the block l3I will move along the guide rod I toward the clevis en'd I2'I.

When the section casing 8 is closed and held in place by the heat responsive latch including the bimetal strips 40 and'4I, the coil spring I is compressed so that the moment the heat responsive latch is released after a predetermined temperature has been reached, the closure will be yieldingly urged outwardly away from the casing section I and central frame-portion 6. In order to absorb the shock of the outward movement of the casings I and 8, a coil spring I36 is placed on the free end of the guide rod I26 with one end in butting relationship with the slide block i?=I and its other end in engagement with a stop collar or washer I3! held in place by the upset end of the rod I25 as at I38. It will thus seen that when the casing section '8 has been released by the heat responsive latch including the bimetal strips 49 and ll, the spring I36 will cushion the closure 8 when it has reached the end of its swinging travel.

In the modified form of the invention, the heating elements Fla, i'lb, 'Iic and 11d are connected in. series as at 83a, 83b and 830. The terminal ends and are connected by lead lines or wires a and 85b to the contacts I49 and MI of the single pole double'throw switch I 42 so that the movable switch arm I43 thereof'may be swung on its pivot I44 into engagement with either one of the contacts Hit or I4'I. A lead line or wire hi5 connects the movable switch arm I'4 3 with a terminal connection I 46 which may be plugged into the domestic current supply system and a lead line It! connects the other terminal I48 of said domestic current supply system with the intermediate portion of one of the electric hcating elements 'IIb.

It is intended to incorporate the single pole double throw switch I42 in the circuit wiring of the automatic electric toaster shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive to facilitate the toasting of one slice of toast when the movable contact arm I43 is in engagement with the stationary contact I of the single pole double throw switch I43 and to enable the toasting of two slices of bread when the movable contact I43 is in engagement with the stationary contact I4I of the single pole double throw switch I42 which, as indicated in Figure 8, places a portion of the electric heating element 51b in series with the remaining electric heating elements He and TM. In this position of switch arm movement, two slices of bread may be heated between the electric heating elements 'I'Eb, TIc and 'I'Id.

Obviously, the single pole double throw switch M2 may be mounted on the base 5 in a convenient location to permit the toasting of one or two slices of bread as desired without necessitating the heating of all of the electric heating elements carried by the horizontally swinging casing section I and it is to be noted that the lead lines or wires 85a and 851) as well as the lead wire I41 may pass downwardly through the tubular pintle shaft 8'? shown in the form of the invention in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive so that the lead wire I41 may be connected to one of the switch contacts I I5 in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive while the lead Wire M5 from the movable switch arm I43 may be connected to the other movable contact arm II4 on the switch arm "Win the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. In this 8 construction, the domestic lead wires I20 and I22 of the cable I2I will connect to the connector links H6 and II I as pointed out and described above.

In operation, the casing section is closed and latched in position by the manually controlled latch arm 36 being hooked over the latch pin 39. Several slices of bread B are then placed on the grill rack 60 and the section casing 8 of the toaster is then closed so as to permit the hooked end 41 of the heat responsive latch including the bimetal strips 40 and 4| to be engaged over the keeper projection 5| of the resilient keeper arm 49. With the section casings I and 8 thus closed, a toasting chamber is formed therebetween and the slices of bread B are passed between the heating element supporting frame I2 so as to be disposed in heat relationship therewith.

After the toasting chamber has reached a predetermined temperature so as to toast the slices of bread B to the desired degree, the heat responsive latch including the bimetal strips 40 and 4| will-be flexed inwardly so as to disengage the hooked end 41 thereof from engagement with the keeper projection 5|. The moment the hooked end 41 is released, the casing section 8 is projected or swung horizontally on its vertical axis and by means of the coil spring I25 to an open position to permit the delivery of the slices of bread B to the user. Simultaneously the pintle shaft 88 will have been rotated so as to swing the switch arm I04 out of engagement with its corresponding stationary contact 98 to thereby break the circuit through the domestic current supply cables I20 and I22 and thereby interrupt the current supply through the lead. wires to the electric heating element 11.

If it is desired to toast the bread slices B to a dark brown color, the adjusting screw 52 is manipulated to force the resilient keeper arm 49 inwardly so as to delay the opening of the casing section 8 a longer predetermined time limit. On the other hand, if it is desired to toast the bread to a light brown color, the adjusting screw 52 is unthreaded partially with respect to the nut 53 so as to permit the keeper projection 5I to move slightly forward and thereby shorten the predetermined time interval of the release of said heat responsive latch including the bimetal parts 40 and 4|. By thus setting the adjusting screw 52 the casing section 8 may be released when the toasting chamber has reached a predetermined temperature sufiicient to cause the flexing of the bimetal strips to and M and disengagement of the hooked end 47 thereof from the keeper projection 5|.

In cleaning the toaster, the section casings 'I and 8 are swung horizontally on their vertical axis to an open position, and a brush or the like is employed for cleaning the heating elements and removing crumbs and the like from the top wall 9 of the base 5. When the casing sections are in their open position, both of the switch arms I03 and I04 will be in the position shown in Figure '7 so as to be disengaged from their respective switch contacts 91 and 98 and insure the interruption of the circuit through the heating elements 'I'I without necessitating the removal of the plug connector carried by the end of the domestic supply cable I2I. In this manner the toaster may be cleaned without the danger of the user being burned or electrocuted by contacting the heating elements II or lead wires 85 thereof.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to 9 be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic electric toaster, comprising a base, a stationary vertical frame thereon, a pair of movable casing sections hinged to said frame to swing horizontally in opposite directions into closing engagement with said frame and form a toasting chamber therebetween, heating elements carried by one of said casing sections and arranged in superposed vertically-spaced relation, and food holders carried by said other casing section and swingable therewith into positions disposed between adjacent heating elements when said sections are in closed engagement with said frame.

2. An automatic electric toaster, comprising a base, a stationary vertical frame thereon, a pair of movable casing sections hinged to said frame to swing horizontally in opposite directions into closing engagement with said frame and form a toasting chamber therebetween, heating elements carried by one of said casing sections and arranged in superposed vertically-spaced relation, food holders carried by said other casing section and swingable therewith into positions disposed between adjacent heating elements when said sections are in closed engagement with said frame, a circuit for supplying electric current to said heating elements, including a pair of switches arranged in series, one switch being connected to each casing section, said switches being closed and opened in response to the closing and opening respectively of said casing sections.

3. An automatic electric toaster, comprising a base, a central frame member extending upwardly from said base, a pair of casing sections hinged to said central frame structure adapted to form a toasting chamber therebetween when said casing sections are closed, heating elements carried by one of said casing sections, rotatable shafts connected to said casing sections, movable switch arms carried by said shafts to rotate therewith upon opening and closing of said casing sections, and a stationary contact engageable with said switch arms in the closed positions of said casing sections, said switch arms being connected in series with said heating elements and a source of electrical energy and operable to interrupt the supply of electrical energy to said heating elements when the casing sections are moved to an open position.

4. An automatic electric toaster, comprising a base, a central frame member extending upwardly from said base, a pair of casing sections hinged to said cental frame structure adapted to form a toasting chamber therebetween when said casing sections are closed, heating elements carried by one of said casing sections, rotatable shafts connected to said casing sections, one of said shafts having a longitudinal bore therethrough, movable switch arms carried by said shafts to rotate therewith upon opening and closing of said casing sections, and a stationary contact engageable with said switch arms in the closed positions of said casing sections, said switch arms being connected in series with said heating elements and a source of electrical energy and operable to interrupt the supply of electrical energy to said heating elements when the casing sections are moved to an open position, said heating elements being connected to said switch arms by a conductor passing through said shaft bore.

OSCAR G. KREER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,550,949 Coleman Aug. 25, 1925 1,669,318 Boad May 8, 1928 1,769,973 Wells July 8, 1930 1,947,232 Smith Feb. 13, 1934 1,954,235 Becker et a1 Apr. 10, 1934 1,993,353 Young Mar. 5, 1935 2,036,523 Freeman Apr. 7, 1936 2,057,741 Purpura Oct. 20, 1936 2,266,024 Gomersall Dec. 16, 1941 2,320,347 Brosseau et al June 1, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 135,628 Austria Nov. 25, 1933 

